Monday, June 05, 2006

Notes from Istanbul

Darlings, very quick as am paying by minute.

Am glad that C is handsome, sweet boyfriend as all Turkish men under fifty frantically good looking.

Bargaining in Grand Bazaar is fun. Shopkeeper from whom made major purchase got very angry with me but I kept starting to leave shop and he kept lowering price. After making purchase (got two things for 3/4 price originally quoted for one) he handed me bags and said, "You do this better than most American."

As usual most abroad do not think I am American until I open my mouth. Lufthansa crews invariably addressed me in German, and in Istanbul was generally assumed I am Italian or Spanish. Ship's crew thinks I am Jewish, chefs keep advising me which dishes contain pork.

Dolores has taken fancy to Galina, our chambermaid. When expressed surprise at this she said, "Nothing virgin about this wool, cupcake" and advised me that if I return to find beaded handbag on cabin doorknob I should sleep in ship's library.

If you visit Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, do not skip Harem. Pay the extra 10 lira. Will never read the Thousand and One Nights again without picturing those beautiful rooms.

There is one other gay man (British) on ship and he is pointedly ignoring me. As usual only passes come from "straight" married men. Am avoiding sauna at all costs.

Woke at 6 am to watch passage through Hellespont (Dardanelles). Saw "windy plains of Troy" with own eyes. If had to return tomorrow would still always remember this as amazing trip.

Is said Englisman Blond 60ish wearing a lot of beige with Birmingham accent ? ( famous Brummies include Lenny Henry if you've heard him) ...probably not but now I know why my friend Tony has taken such a shine to Turkish holidays...huh as if I didn't naughty boy!

No one abroad ever thinks I'm American either. I was once firmly told that I must be Canadian. Their thought was a) I don't have an American accent (at the time I had a New England accent mixed with a Southern slowness and habit of speech) b) I was too polite and b) Americans don't knit. Hmmmm.

One idea to save internet time is to type out your post in something like word then copy and paste it onto your blog. Of course that will only work if you are only being charged for internet time and not computer time =)

Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Enjoy evey minute of it. Can't wait to see you in July so we can hear about all the places you went and also see all the pictures you took. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

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